Sacred Heart Community Service Careers

La Mesa Verde Program Coordinator 

This is an On-Site Position based in San Jose, CA

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT:

Sacred Heart Community Service (SHCS) in San José, CA is seeking a creative and committed full-time La Mesa Verde Program Coordinator to help lead one of the Bay Area’s most vibrant food justice initiatives. In this pivotal role, you will coordinate workshops, volunteers, and community events while cultivating leadership through bilingual Spanish/English member programs and volunteer committees, empowering families to grow their own food and advocate for systemic change. We are looking for a flexible, organized, and community-driven leader with strong communication and relationship-building skills who is deeply committed to social justice, equity, and sustainability. For more than 60 years, SHCS has combined impactful programs that meet urgent needs with collective action to advance equity and systemic change—join us and help build a thriving community rooted in justice.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The La Mesa Verde Program Coordinator plays a central role in advancing food justice by engaging and empowering families to build leadership, strengthen community connections, and take collective action. This position oversees a bilingual Spanish/English membership program, facilitates member-led volunteer committees, and coordinates workshops, events, and advocacy campaigns that promote participation and shared ownership of the program. Using community organizing tools such as one-on-one meetings, strategic planning, and popular education, the Coordinator nurtures leadership development, cultivates inclusive participation, and supports community members in advocating for systemic change. While gardening is an important vehicle for engagement, the heart of this role lies in fostering leadership, collaboration, and empowerment to create a more just and sustainable food system.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Program Management (35–40%)

• Support LMV Committees in planning and delivering skill-building workshops, volunteer opportunities, and community-wide events such as garden workdays and plant distributions.
• Recruit, train, and support community educators for bilingual garden workshops, integrating popular education techniques.
• Develop onboarding and professional development for LMV staff on topics such as gardening, composting, popular education, community organizing, and food policy.
• Strengthen member engagement through one-on-one outreach, calls, and online communications, and build partnerships with community organizations to expand resources.
• Design and implement inclusive outreach strategies, forums, and feedback sessions to promote participation and shared decision-making.
• Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness through surveys, engagement metrics, and feedback, making recommendations for improvement.
• Collaborate with staff and volunteers to create promotional materials and communications that enhance visibility and participation in LMV programs and policy campaigns.

Administrative Duties (15-25%)

• Develop, track, and analyze program goals that align with the agency's strategic priorities. Regularly assess progress and adjust strategies as needed to ensure goals are met and to maximize community impact.
• Collaborate with leadership to monitor grant requirements, ensuring that all service delivery goals are met and/or exceeded, and that reporting deadlines are adhered to.
• Support the planning and implementation of agency-wide programs, events, training sessions, and outreach efforts, contributing ideas and logistical support to enhance overall effectiveness.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management to support the overall mission and operations of Sacred Heart Community Service, demonstrating flexibility and a willingness to assist wherever needed.
• Support LMV social media campaigns by creating engaging content and interacting with community members online. Monitor social media engagement metrics to assess the effectiveness of campaigns and make recommendations for improvement.
• Collaborate with other teams within the organization to identify opportunities for cross-promotion and resource sharing, enhancing the visibility and impact of LMV initiatives.
• Facilitate regular feedback sessions with members and volunteers to gather insights and suggestions, using this input to inform program development and community needs.

Leadership (35-45%)

• Meet one-on-one with LMV committee members to foster awareness of food justice, local food systems, and collective power, while supporting healthy group dynamics and collaborative planning.
• Develop and deliver leadership training sessions tailored to member needs and experiences, covering topics such as meeting facilitation, understanding food systems, solidarity building, and the intersection of race and class in food justice.
• Create and implement ongoing leadership development programs that empower members to take on greater responsibility, with a focus on building skills in public speaking, advocacy, and community organizing.
• Support policy issue research and advocacy strategy and facilitate workshops that prepare members to analyze issues and take effective collective action on local food policy.
• Mediate conflict and promote restorative practices that strengthen trust, encourage open dialogue, and foster mutual respect among members and volunteers.
• Organize community-building activities and mentorship opportunities that deepen relationships, foster belonging, and create a culture of shared learning across experience levels.
• Collaborate with program leaders to identify leadership gaps, design targeted initiatives, and evaluate leadership development efforts through participant feedback and outcome measures.
• Encourage a culture of accountability by setting clear expectations for participation, celebrating successes, and recognizing both individual and collective contributions.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Strong commitment to SHCS’s vision of a community united to ensure every child and adult is free from poverty, with a deep understanding of social justice issues and community empowerment.
• Bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish, enabling effective communication with a diverse community.
• Excellent public speaking, writing, and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts to diverse audiences.
• Flexible, compassionate, and supportive attitude, with the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and respond to community needs with empathy.
• Experience providing culturally competent support and leadership development, ensuring inclusivity and respect for diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Proficiency in Google Apps, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and social media platforms, with the ability to learn new software as needed.
• Availability to work some evenings and weekends as required for community events and workshops.
• Ability to travel to multiple locations for garden visits, family engagement, and program needs; must have reliable personal transportation, a valid driver’s license, and insurance per state law and SHCS policy (mileage reimbursement available).
• Ability to work outdoors in varied weather conditions and perform garden-related physical tasks, including lifting up to 30 pounds with assistance.
• Ability to pass DMV and criminal background checks and must be insurable by Sacred Heart’s policies.
• One to two years of experience in community-based organizations, including grassroots organizing, leadership development, curriculum training, or adult education.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Passion for food sovereignty, community engagement, and organizing, with a commitment to building equitable food systems.
• Experience with adult, community-based, or popular education methods.
• Practical knowledge of urban gardening, farming, permaculture, and/or homesteading.
• Experience supporting grant compliance and reporting.
• Experience facilitating community events using virtual platforms (e.g., Zoom).
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REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:

The La Mesa Verde Coordinator will report to the La Mesa Verde Manager. 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

To consider the application, applicants must submit a resume & cover letter outlining their experience in information referral and community work.

COMPENSATION:

This is a full-time non-exempt position that pays $27.14/hour. This position is represented by the SEIU, Local 521 bargaining unit. Salary placement is per the union’s negotiated salary schedule beginning at Step 1 and including step increases based on tenure.

Excellent benefits include fully paid medical insurance for employees, and majority paid medical insurance for qualified dependents, dental insurance, vision insurance, 12 paid holidays, 10 paid sick days per year, paid vacation starting at 10 days per year, additional wellness benefits, basic life and long-term disability insurance, professional development and more.

Sacred Heart Community Service is proud to be an Equal Opportunity workplace and an Affirmative Action Employer. SHCS is committed to building a team of people of diverse ethnic, cultural, and experiential backgrounds. We especially encourage members of historically underrepresented and marginalized communities, people of color, women, people living with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQ+ people to apply. It is the policy of Sacred Heart Community Service to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, medical condition or genetic information, veteran status, national origin, disability, marital or other protected status. SHCS will conform to the spirit, as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.